Plastic Pollution

As the world’s population continues to grow, so does the amount of garbage that people produce. On-the-go lifestyles require easily disposable products, such as soda cans or bottles of water, but the accumulation of these products has led to increasing amounts of plastic pollution around the world. As plastic is composed of major toxic pollutants, it has the potential to cause great harm to the environment in the form of air, water and land pollution.

Put simply, plastic pollution is when plastic has gathered in an area and has begun to negatively impact the natural environment and create problems for plants, wildlife and even human population. Often this includes killing plant life and posing dangers to local animals. Plastic is an incredibly useful material, but it is also made from toxic compounds known to cause illness, and because it is meant for durability, it is not biodegradable.

Next time you go for a shopping, don’t forget to carry a paper or cloth bag. Also, try to avoid bringing plastic bags at home and purchasing items with too much of packaging. This way you can help in contributing towards the environment in the form of reducing plastic pollution whose ill effects are irreversible.

Resources: http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-effects-solutions-of-plastic-pollution.php

Prevention from Light Pollution

There are two basic approaches to solving light pollution – planning and education. Planning means more consideration about how areas are zoned and where lights are placed. It also means changing the types of lights used within the home, signs and streetlamps to more efficient bulbs, and with a light output that is not so disruptive. Education is also key. The more people understand the importance of turning off lights to conserve energy and reduce light pollution the faster change will be seen.

It is difficult to change habits with people and expensive to redesign and replace what already exists. Slowly people and governments are recognizing the long term impact of exposure to light pollution and are seeing that preventative costs provide long-term savings over the long run. Light pollution is getting more attention these days and as education and awareness improves, so will efforts to reduce light pollution.

Resources: http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/types-causes-and-effects-of-light-pollution.php

Effects of Light Pollution

While many people choose to dismiss light pollution as being the price of modern life, it has serious effects on everything around it.

Animals – Lights can attract or repel animals and insects. Most animal life functions on a diurnal or nocturnal system that is thrown out of sync by light pollution. This can place entire species in danger, or attract unwanted species into human areas.

People – The wrong kind of light, or too much light has been proven to have an impact on your health and quality of life. Light pollution also increases danger to people as it can interfere with important navigational systems for trains, planes and even automobiles.

The Earth – The Earth’s ecosystem is dependent on cycles of natural light. Sky Glow alone can cause a loss in growth protection as the reflected light off the atmosphere will prevent the natural UV rays from reaching the Earth. This disrupts growth and decay cycles that our food, air and water supply is dependent on.

Resources: http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/types-causes-and-effects-of-light-pollution.php

Causes of Light Pollution

Light pollution is unique as it is caused by man only. There is no comparable natural form of the pollution like there is with carbon dioxide. The main causes of light pollution are:

Poor Planning – The placement of signage and street lights is planned by engineers, if they do not take into account the effect placement has on the surrounding environment they can create glare, light trespass and light clutter.

Irresponsible use – You may love Christmas lights but leaving them on all night is a form of pollution, as is leaving a room with the lights still on or setting the timers on streetlamps and not adjusting the timer for the season. Not actively choosing to minimize energy waste is a huge source of light pollution.

Overpopulation – That is really a zoning issue. Too many businesses, or too many residences, grouped in one area can cause light pollution of many kinds.

Types and Sources of Light Pollution

There are many different types and sources of light pollution. Light pollution can mean visible light disruptions from a flooding of too much man-made light (as in the example of the city lights); it can also mean a lack of light – again, city lights take away a form of natural illumination and replace it with an artificial means; and it can also mean changes to light that cannot be seen. Light that cannot be seen is found on the radio-wave spectrum. When people talk about light pollution they tend to mean one of five specific types:

1. Over-illumination: This is caused by misuse of lights. Lights that are left on, or even street lamps that aren’t adjusted for daylight savings time, can cause millions of barrels of oil to be wasted. It can have the immediate effect of raising utility costs in an area as well as disrupting natural sleep patterns.

2. Glare: Glare is a two-fold problem in which lights are reflected off surrounding surfaces so that the light scatters and causes vision problems. It doesn’t interfere with night vision, but makes it difficult to identify and place objects.

3. Light clutter: Light clutter is a uniquely man-made issue and it stems from poor placement design. A cluster of business lights, or streetlights, can create a contrast illumination that interferes with night vision and illumination. It can also be strong enough to throw off the natural nocturnal systems of animals.

4. Sky Glow: This is a term used to refer to the almost dome-like cover of light to city areas. The light that is escaping from street lamps, signs, homes and businesses goes up to change the quality of light in the atmosphere, and it bounces back down to the city from the atmosphere. It can affect natural growth patterns, and the ability of planes to navigate at night too.

5. Light Trespass: Not only is this a form of pollution but it is also a crime in many areas. Light trespass refers to unwanted light entering someone’s property. It could be light from a sign coming into a residential area or any similar circumstance.

Resources:
http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/types-causes-and-effects-of-light-pollution.php

Light Pollution

Light pollution is excessive, misdirected or inappropriate outdoor lighting. Too much of light pollution washes out view of the Universe, result in increase in the energy consumption, interferes with astronomical research, disrupts ecosystems, affects the health and safety of humans and wildlife. It may surprise you to know that light pollution can have as great an impact on the planet as levels of carbon monoxide and other airborne pollutants.

When most people talk about light pollution they are speaking of all the ways that man made light is changing the natural lighting of the environment. For example, all the lights of a city change the way light and dark fall. There is really no more night there, and plants or animals that are dependent on that night illumination are compromised. There are other reasons why maintaining natural light is important too.

While science has made great strides in creating ways to illuminate darkness, we now know that changing the natural light of any environment can have devastating effects on the plant, animal and natural life. It can even affect weather in some cases. The natural world is set to respond to the sun’s patterns of light. The seasons are a result of the distance of the sun to the Earth. This creates growing and hibernation seasons that natural life recognizes because most are photosensitive. The type of light is also a warning as to the climate to come and can trigger natural protections such as the turning of leaves and the slowing down of metabolic systems.

When there is too much light, too little light, or the wrong kind of light present it can disrupt the natural harmonies and metabolic cycles of lifeforms on Earth. While worrying about whether the ground worm is confused as to whether it is night or day doesn’t seem like an issue, consider that human beings have metabolic systems that are also highly light dependent. We are as responsive to light as a plant that turns its bloom towards the sun. In fact, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is thought to be caused by a sharp decrease in exposure to natural light.

Resources:
http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/types-causes-and-effects-of-light-pollution.php

Prevention of Radioactive Pollution

1. Safe storage: radioactive pollution needs to be stored in specialized containers, which do not break easily and which do not allow radiation to seep out.

2. Clear warnings: radioactive material can contaminate a person’s clothing or their skin. Then, as that person moves through the environment, they can contaminate other living organisms in their turn. Clear warnings about the presence of radioactive material will prevent this from happening. Of course, animals are not able to read these warnings, and this is why adequate containers are also needed.

3. Alternative sources of energy: seeking alternatives to nuclear energy will reduce the number of nuclear power plants in the world and thus reduce the risks that are associated with radioactive material. Radioactive material is present in various places in a nuclear power plant. Radioactive materials are used to produce nuclear power. Moreover, the waste that is produced by nuclear power plants is also radioactive.

4. Nuclear disarmament: disarming and getting rid of nuclear weapons is a very significant way of eliminating the hazards associated with radioactive material.

5. Proper disposal of radioactive waste: radioactive waste needs to be disposed of in a particular way. It cannot just be buried in the soil or thrown into the garbage bin as it would contaminate the environment. Moreover, though it does gradually deactivate over time, radioactive waste stays radioactive for a long time. How long depends on what is called the ‘half life’ of the atoms that are emitting the radiation. However, most of the time, radioactive waste will take several centuries or even millennia to completely deactivate. There are several ways of disposing of radioactive waste. One way is to encase it in very thick concrete containers and bury it deep under the sea. Scientists have suggested that the motion of the deep sea waves actually helps to deactivate radioactive waste more quickly. Some radioactive waste can also be ‘recycled’ and used to generate more nuclear energy. However, in all cases, it is crucial that radioactive waste is disposed of safely and by trained professionals.

Conclusion.

As science advanced, radiation became an increasingly important part of human society. Though atomic decay has been used for what can be argued to be positive means, such as generating nuclear energy, radioactive material can be a very hazardous pollutant.

As has been explained above, radioactive pollution can be very damaging to living organisms. It can cause illnesses that can be seen for several generations in the future. It can halt agriculture in affected regions by making the soil dangerous and sterile, and it can also cause immediate damage to the skin such as burns and sores.

So, it is very important to ensure that radioactive pollution does not occur. This can be done by taking the preventative measures described above.

Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioactive_contamination
http://www.importantindia.com/24051/radioactive-pollution

Effects of radioactive pollution

Radiation alters and destroys cells in living organisms. Whether an organism is a plant or an animal (including a human), radiation can result in illness or death.

Radioactive pollution can cause genetic mutations in living organisms, and in their descendants. If an animal is exposed to radioactive pollution, for example, it may give birth to babies that have severe congenital defects. These mutations can also cause cancer, sometimes several years in the future, as well as conditions such as infertility and

Radiation can also have a burning effect: chemical burns are slightly different from the burns that come from excessive heat as chemicals need not be at a high temperature for an organism to feel a burning sensation when they come into contact with them. However, radioactive burns can cause blistering, reddening, pain and damage to skin tissue.

Damage to the soil and plants is another key effect of radioactive pollution. Radioactive pollution can leave soil infertile and unfit for crops for several decades. It can leave the air unsafe to breathe, too.

Resources: http://www.importantindia.com/24051/radioactive-pollution

Causes of Radioactive Pollution

Radioactive pollution is caused when radioactive matter is allowed to contaminate the environment. There are several main ways in which this can happen.

A key cause of radioactive pollution is breaches at nuclear power plants, which can result in leakages of radioactive matter into the environment. As nuclear energy becomes a big alternative to fossil fuels, this risk increases.

Another cause is chemical spills. Radioactive chemicals can, whether due to improper transport or to containers breaking, spill out into the atmosphere and onto the ground.

Another cause of radioactive pollution is when scientific experiments involving radiation are not conducted with the proper care. A famous case is the scientist Marie Curie, whose studies into the curative effects of radiation actually caused her to fall ill from radiation poisoning. Nevertheless, her discoveries helped us to make great strides towards treating and curing cancer.

In sum, wherever there is radioactive material, there is the danger of radioactive pollution. Radioactive material must be handled with great care. Below, the effects of radioactive pollution are explained. These effects are what will occur if radioactive material is not handled properly. After that, you will find a list of preventative measures that can be taken to keep living beings safe from radioactive pollution.

Resources:
http://www.importantindia.com/24051/radioactive-pollution

Radioactive Pollution

Radioactive pollution (also radioactive contamination) is the presence of radioactive substances in the environment. These substances are known as pollutants because they can cause damage to the environment. Animals, plants and humans can all fall ill due to radioactive pollution.

Alternative names for radioactive pollution include ‘radioactive contamination’ and ‘radiological contamination’. These terms all mean the same thing: radioactive matter polluting the environment.

It is also good to know precisely what radioactive substances are. A substance is radioactive when the nuclei of its atoms start to decay. When this happens, the atom becomes unstable and releases particles which form radiation.

Radiation can be made up of several different particles, including gamma rays, alpha particles, beta particles and a type of electron known as ‘conversion electrons’.

Radiation can be undetectable when it touches a person’s skin. However, it is very hazardous. With alpha radiation, a living thing will need to be within centimeters of the radiation source to be affected by the radiation. However, other forms of radiation can travel long distances and affect plants, animals and people for miles around

Resource:
http://www.importantindia.com/24051/radioactive-pollution

Prevention of Noise Pollution

Some effective measures should be taken too solve the problem. The following measures can be taken to prevent noise pollution:

To prevent and control noise pollution it is necessary to create public awareness. Only law is not sufficient. People must be made aware of the harmful consequences of noise pollution.

People should be made aware that excessive noise beyond certain limits may cause deafness.

They should know that injuries caused by sound pollution are often irreversible.

There should be minimum use of sound producing instruments. There should be proper regulations for the use of loudspeakers and other devices that produce noise beyond that are beyond the toleration limits of human-beings.

The Pollution Control Board and the High Court have already taken effective measures to bring sound pollution under control. Adequate measures should be taken to ensure that noise related restrictions are not violated.

Anti-pollution laws should be enacted and enforced.

Ban of fire crackers should be imposed and electric horns should be replaced by bulb horns.

The use of microphones should be controlled and regulated.

Conclusion

Noise pollution is real. It is not just a mild annoyance. It can negatively effect the lives of both humans and animals. It poses severs threats such as environmental hazards, health problems, habitat loss, etc. It also changes in the ways in which people cohere. As such, we should all make sure that we do not contribute to noise pollution.

Effect of Noise Pollution

Noise pollution affects the human mind and body negatively. The ill-effects of noise pollution are many. It is the major cause for several ailments. The quality of human life gets disrupted. The lives of the children, the aged or the ailing people become miserable.

1. Loss of hearing and deafness: Noise above the tolerable threshold is the leading cause for loss of hearing and deafness.

2. Cardiac disturbance: Noise increase the risk of cardiac disturbance including coronary artery disease or ischemic heart disease (IHD).

3. Sleeplessness: Noise may make people restless and tired. It may cause disrupted sleeping pattern or may keep people away from sound sleep. In the long-term, due to tiredness and lack of sleep, the immune system may get compromised.

4. Headache: Human mind can tolerate sound only to a limited extent. Excess noise causes headache.

5. Stress, tension and aggressiveness: Loud noises can be very stressful. Constant exposure to irritating sound may cause stress and tension. The behavior of people often becomes aggressive. Other than psychological imbalance, is causes physical illness such as increased blood pressure, cardiac disturbance and insomnia.

6. Irregular blood pressure: For good health, it is very important to maintain normal pressure in the arteries both during the heartbeat and between the heartbeat. Noise may contribute to fluctuations in the levels of blood pressure.

7. Mental imbalance and nervous debility: Mental illness is among the worst negative effects of noise pollution. People may find it difficult to cope with their normal routine life. Human mind cannot accept sound beyond a certain level. Excess sound may lead to mental imbalance and nervous disability.

8. Psychological imbalance: It may also cause psychological imbalance.

9. Difficulty in talking: Due to excessive noise, it becomes very difficult to talk on roads or inside malls.

Resources:
http://www.importantindia.com/17093/noise-pollution-causes-effects-and-prevention

Causes of Noise Pollution

Noise pollution can be caused by several phenomenon including industrial activity, and social activity (such as explosion of fire crackers, loud parties), and surface travel. The many causes of noise pollution are discussed below:

1. Fire crackers: Fire crackers are exploded to make huge sound during celebrations and festive occasions.  It is common sight to witness the firing of crackers at live concerts.

2. Transportation vehicles: Noise pollution is severest in the cities. The different modes of transportation (land, air and water), such as motor-cars, buses, trains, trams, airplanes, etc. produces sound that disturbs the human mind.

3. Microphones: The unrestricted use of microphones during social and political events.

4. Loud speakers: During social events and other festive occasions, people use loud speakers in unjustified manner.

5. Factories and industries: In large cities, there are large number of factories, mills and industries. These industrial sites produce immense environmental noise to disturb the habitats of nearby residential areas.

6. Domestic appliances: Even at homes, people use large number of domestic appliances such as grinder, mixer, juicer, etc.

7. Loud music: Playing music in high volume,

8. Television: Television also causes sound and watching television for long hours in just as harmful for ears as they are for eyes.

9. Building and construction sites near residential areas: The building and construction activity involves use of sound producing equipment such as cement-mixer, road-roller, crane, etc.

All the above activities produce enough noise to disturb the health and mind of human-beings and other living bodies.

Credits:
http://www.importantindia.com/17093/noise-pollution-causes-effects-and-prevention

Noise Pollution

Noise pollution (also sound pollution, sound disturbance) refers to the excessive and troublesome sound that is injurious to health.

Noise pollution refers to the presence of such levels of noise or sound in the environment that are disturbing, irritating and annoying to living beings.

So, noise pollution is noise that causes discomfort and harm to living being’s mental and physical health. Such noise is considered harmful either physically or psychologically. It is one of the major cause for deafness and other health hazards. Even animals suffer from excessive environmental noise.

In this article, we will further discuss on the following sub-topics of Noise Pollution. Click on the links below to directly jump to the relevant section.

Credits: http://www.importantindia.com/17093/noise-pollution-causes-effects-and-prevention

Effects of Thermal Pollution

1. Thermal shock resulting in rise in temperature of water bodies – When industries and factories dispose the water, used as coolant, back into water bodies the temperature suddenly raises to an abnormal level. The sudden and abnormal temperature level acts as a thermal shock for aquatic life, which is adapted to living in a specific temperature and cannot, handle the abrupt change in water temperature.

2. Depleted level of oxygen in natural water – When warm water discharged by industries enters the natural water bodies, they get heated up. The warm water causes an unusual growth of plants and expansion of algae. The algae expansion in water reduces the level of oxygen in water.

3. Contamination of water – Thermal pollution also results in contamination of water because various chemicals and other wastes get mixed up with the water that is disposed off back to rivers, ponds, lakes, etc., by various factories. If this contamination of water keeps on increasing, humans can suffer from shortage of water.

4. Reduced solubility of oxygen – Reduced solubility of oxygen in water bodies is another disappointing effect of thermal pollution. This less solubility of oxygen in water mainly affects the metabolism of water animal.

5. Adverse effect on water plants – Change in temperature levels is extremely harmful for the aquatic plants. These plants cannot cope up with the sudden alteration in water temperature. Hence, more and more aquatic plants are depleting each day because of thermal pollution

6. Adverse effects on water animals – The whole marine life gets disturbed because of thermal pollution. The contaminated water makes the natural water poisonous and has an adverse effect on animals living in it. Also, the reduced level of oxygen makes it difficult for water animals to survive.

7. Effect on population of water animals – When the temperature in natural water bodies gets disturbed because of thermal pollution, the cycle of animal population gets disturbed too. For example, sometimes the fish start laying eggs too soon and sometime they do it too late. The whole productivity of river gets disturbed too.

8. Disturbance in biological activities of water animals – Thermal pollution leads to a disturbance in quality and temperature of water in various water bodies. This altered quality and temperature directly affect all the biological activities of animals, thus disturbing the cycle of nature.

9. Unfavorable Effect on Water Biodiversity – Thermal pollution largely affects the water bio diversity. The rise in temperature of water results in increased metabolic activity of some water animals. Hence, they start consuming more food in short time. This also leads to shortage of certain water resources. Some animals which are unable to stand the raised temperature start moving to other regions. Therefore, the whole natural system of water bio diversity gets disturbed.

10. Unexpected Migration of Water Animals – When water animals find it difficult to survive in the changed water because of thermal pollution, they start for an unexpected migration, making way for a disturbed ecosystem.

Causes of Thermal Pollution

1. Water used as coolant & ejected back into water bodies – Mainly, the water that is used as coolant and transferred back to natural water bodies is the chief reason for thermal pollution. This kind of activity is mostly done by production; manufacturing and power plants. These plants use water to cool down their machines and eject back the hot water into water bodies. Thus, the natural water goes through a sudden rise in temperature.

2. Release of cold water – Just as we mentioned before, many industries liberate very cool water from their reservoirs. This water when mixed up with warm water rivers, lakes or ponds creates a disbalance in the flora and fauna of affected water bodies.

3. Growing industrial activities – It gives a repenting feeling to know that thermal pollutants are increasing day by day because of the growing industrial activities. Therefore, thermal pollution is also growing each day.

4. Chemical pollutants discharged into water – There are copious factories that discharge their chemical waste directly into natural water bodies. This does not only causes thermal pollution but also makes the water poisonous.

5. Livestock waste mixed into water – This is another major cause of thermal pollution. Many industries dispose their livestock waste into water without analyzing upon the hazardous consequences of this act.

6. Water discharged from urban areas – Many urban areas like parking places, roads, etc., deposit rain water and discharge the heated water back into water bodies. The heated water disturbs the normal temperature of natural water bodies.

7. Human waste, household & personal care products – These products go into sewage water which pollutes the water in ponds, seas and other water bodies.

8. Deforestation & soil erosion – Soil erosion makes natural water bodies to rise beyond their normal level. Thus, they get more exposed to sunlight. Hence, the temperature of water rises. Forests absorb much of sun rays and save water bodies from getting too much heat. However, deforestation disturbs this cycle and provides augmented temperature of water.

9. Natural Geo-thermal activities – Natural geothermal activities can stimulate lava and can cause a rise in water temperature, making way for thermal pollution.

10. Unawareness among people – Growing thermal pollution is also the result of unawareness among people. Even after knowing the hazardous effects of thermal pollution on environment, there are abundant industries which are continuously using ways that encourage this pollution.

Credits: http://www.importantindia.com/23820/thermal-pollution

Thermal Pollution

Thermal pollution can be simply explained as the addition of surplus heat to water and ejecting it back to the water bodies. So how does it happen? Well, numerous industries take water from natural water resources for their industrial purposes. Maximum of this water is used as coolant as it is used to cool down the machines of any factory or plant.

Afterwards, this used water with altered and much high temperature is ejected back to the natural resources including lakes, ponds, seas, etc. This causes sudden increase in temperature of natural water bodies too. The altered water also creates disturbance in the oxygen level of water bodies. This in turn, harms the marine life and local ecosystems. Therefore, thermal pollution caused in water by spilling back the industrial waste and used water in it, causing adverse effects, is known as thermal pollution.

Thermal pollution is not only caused by the hot water but also by the cold water that is discharged by various industries into the rivers or seas containing warm water.

How to plant a Tree

 When you plant a tree, you celebrate the earth by increasing its leafy canopy. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, "One acre of forest absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide and puts out four tons of oxygen. This is enough to meet the annual needs of 18 people." Trees also add beauty, increase the value of your home, provide cooling shade and offer shelter for wildlife. Proper planting is critical to their survival and long-term success.

Digging the Hole
Planting too deep is the top reason that trees and shrubs die. Follow these simple steps to ensure the correct planting depth for both balled-and-burlapped (B&B) and potted trees.

1. Locate the point at which the trunk flares out to join the roots. On B&B trees, remove the twine and burlap at the base of the trunk. If necessary, gently push the soil away from the base of the trunk to find the flare.
2. Measure the distance from the bottom of the root mass to the trunk flare. Dig the hole no deeper than this; you want the root mass to sit on undisturbed soil. When planting is complete, the trunk flare should be slightly above the existing soil grade.
3. Dig the hole two to three times the diameter of the root ball or container, sloping the sides gently outward to the existing soil grade.

Backfill

The thinking on backfill has changed in recent years. Although it was once common to modify the backfill soil with amendments — such as compost, peat moss, aged manure and other ingredients — it is now considered best practice to leave the backfill unaltered or add minimal amendments. This encourages roots to spread out into the native soil, rather than staying within the confines of the planting hole.

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Causes of Environmental pollution

1. Industries:
Industries have been polluting our environment especially since the beginning of the industrial revolution, as mentioned above, notably due to the increasing use of fossil fuels. In the 19th century and for a significant part of the 20th century, coal has been use to make machines work faster, replacing human force. Though pollution by industries mainly causes air pollution, soil and water contamination can also occur. This is particularly the case for power-generating industries, such as plants producing electricity (May they be a dam, a nuclear reactor or some other type of plant).

Also, the transportation of this energy can be harmful to the environment. We can take as an example the transportation of petrol through pipelines; if there is a leak in the pipeline, soil will automatically be polluted. At the same time, if the tanker transporting the petrol from its production plant to the place where it will be consumed leaks or sinks, the water will get contaminated.

2. Transportation:
Ever since men abandoned animal power to travel, pollution of the environment has become higher and higher. Its levels have only been increasing until now. Similarly to industries, pollution caused by transport can mainly be attributed to fossil fuels. Indeed, humans went from horse carriages to cars, trains (which, before electricity, used to be propelled by coal), and airplanes. As the traffic is increasing every day, pollution follows that evolution.

Environmental Pollution

Environmental pollution has existed for centuries but only started to be significant following the industrial revolution in the 19th century. Pollution occurs when the natural environment cannot destroy an element without creating harm or damage to itself. The elements involved are not produced by nature, and the destroying process can vary from a few days to thousands of years (that is, for instance, the case for radioactive pollutants). In other words, pollution takes place when nature does not know how to decompose an element that has been brought to it in an unnatural way.

Pollution must be taken seriously, as it has a negative effect on natural elements that are an absolute need for life to exist on earth, such as water and air. Indeed, without it, or if they were present on different quantities, animals – including humans – and plants could not survive. We can identify several types of pollution on Earth: air pollution, water pollution and soil pollution, etc.

Credits: http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-and-effects-of-environmental-pollution.php

Effects of environmental pollution

1. Effects on Humans:
The effects of environmental pollution on humans are mainly physical, but can also turn into neuro-affections in the long term. The best-known troubles to us are respiratory, in the form of allergies, asthma, irritation of the eyes and nasal passages, or other forms of respiratory infections. Notably, these well spread affections can be observed when air pollution is high in cities, when the weather gets hot, for instance. On top of that, environmental pollution has been proven to be a major factor in the development of cancer. This can happen for example when we eat reminiscences of pollutants used in the production of processed foods, or pesticides from the crops. Other, rarer, diseases include hepatitis, typhoid affections, diarrhoea and hormonal disruptions.

Effects of soil pollution

1. Effect on Health of Humans: Considering how soil is the reason we are able to sustain ourselves, the contamination of it has major consequences on our health. Crops and plants grown on polluted soil absorb much of the pollution and then pass these on to us. This could explain the sudden surge in small and terminal illnesses.

Long term exposure to such soil can affect the genetic make-up of the body, causing congenital illnesses and chronic health problems that cannot be cured easily. In fact, it can sicken the livestock to a considerable extent and cause food poisoning over a long period of time. The soil pollution can even lead to widespread famines if the plants are unable to grow in it.

2. Effect on Growth of Plants:
The ecological balance of any system gets affected due to the widespread contamination of the soil. Most plants are unable to adapt when the chemistry of the soil changes so radically in a short period of time. Fungi and bacteria found in the soil that bind it together begin to decline, which creates an additional problem of soil erosion.

The fertility slowly diminishes, making land unsuitable for agriculture and any local vegetation to survive. The soil pollution causes large tracts of land to become hazardous to health. Unlike deserts, which are suitable for its native vegetation, such land cannot support most forms of life.

3. Decreased Soil Fertility:
The toxic chemicals present in the soil can decrease soil fertility and therefore decrease in the soil yield. The contaminated soil is then used to produce fruits and vegetables which lacks quality nutrients and may contain some poisonous substance to cause serious health problems in people consuming them.

4. Toxic Dust:
The emission of toxic and foul gases from landfills pollutes the environment and causes serious effects on health of some people. The unpleasant smell causes inconvenience to other people.

5. Changes in Soil Structure:
The death of many soil organisms (e.g. earthworms) in the soil can lead to alteration in soil structure. Apart from that, it could also force other predators to move to other places in search of food.

A number of ways have been suggested to curb the current rate of pollution. Such attempts at cleaning up the environment require plenty of time and resources to be pitched in. Industries have been given regulations for the disposal of hazardous waste, which aims at minimizing the area that becomes polluted. Organic methods of farming are being supported, which do not use chemical laden pesticides and fertilizers. Use of plants that can remove the pollutants from the soil is being encouraged. However, the road ahead is quite long and the prevention of soil pollution will take many more years.

Credits: http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-and-effects-of-soil-pollution.php

Causes of soil pollution

1. Industrial Activity:
Industrial activity has been the biggest contributor to the problem in the last century, especially since the amount of mining and manufacturing has increased. Most industries are dependent on extracting minerals from the Earth. Whether it is iron ore or coal, the by products are contaminated and they are not disposed off in a manner that can be considered safe. As a result, the industrial waste lingers in the soil surface for a long time and makes it unsuitable for use.

2. Agricultural Activities:
  Chemical utilization has gone up tremendously since technology provided us with modern pesticides and fertilizers. They are full of chemicals that are not produced in nature and cannot be broken down by it. As a result, they seep into the ground after they mix with water and slowly reduce the fertility of the soil. Other chemicals damage the composition of the soil and make it easier to erode by water and air. Plants absorb many of these pesticides and when they decompose, they cause soil pollution since they become a part of the land.

3. Waste Disposal:
Finally, a growing cause for concern is how we dispose of our waste. While industrial waste is sure to cause contamination, there is another way in which we are adding to the pollution. Every human produces a certain amount of personal waste products by way or urine and feces.

While much of it moves into the sewer the system, there is also a large amount that is dumped directly into landfills in the form of diapers. Even the sewer system ends at the landfill, where the biological waste pollutes the soil and water. This is because our bodies are full of toxins and chemicals which are now seeping into the land and causing pollution of soil.

4. Accidental Oil Spills:
Oil leaks can happen during storage and transport of chemicals. This can be seen at most of the fuel stations. The chemicals present in the fuel deteriorates the quality of soil and make them unsuitable for cultivation. These chemicals  can enter into the groundwater through soil and make the water undrinkable.

5. Acid Rain:
Acid rain is caused when pollutants present in the air mixes up with the rain and fall back on the ground. The polluted water could dissolve away some of the important nutrients found in soil and change the structure of the soil.

Credits: http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-and-effects-of-soil-pollution.php

Pollution and Food chain

A food web, or food chain, is the feeding connections between organisms in an ecosystem. For example, birds of prey eat rodents, which eat insects, that in turn, eat plants. In addition to affecting humans, pollution impacts wildlife all around the world, from the polar bears in the Arctic to fish in a local watershed. If pollution affects one animal, it’s bound to affect the plant and animal species that interact with it.

Bioaccumulation of Toxins

Bioaccumulation is the gradual accumulation of a chemical in the living tissue of an animal. The Canadian Museum of Nature website states that an animal may have a dangerous chemical in its system if it consumes something that’s polluted or absorbs the chemical through its skin. Instead of eliminating the chemical in its waste, the animal stores the contaminant in its fatty tissues. If a toxin doesn’t kill an animal immediately, the concentration of a bioaccumulated substance tends to increase with the age of the affected species. Substances that animals and plants bioaccumulate are organic pollutants like hexachlorobenzene or the natural toxins released by dinoflagellate algae blooms when the water has a high nutrient content from natural or pollution-related events. Mercury, lead and silver are some of the heavy metals that can bioaccumulate in animals.

Biomagnification Among Species
When a predator consumes an animal affected by bioaccumulation, the toxin in question biomagnifies, according to the MarineBiotech website. For example, a bird that eats multiple insects that ingested a pollution-related chemical will consume large amounts of the toxin. When biomagnifications affects a food web, the animals on the upper tiers tend to eat and store more pollutants. The MarineBiotech website says that a pollutant that’s not biodegradable can remain in an ecosystem for decades. Examples of such pollutants are persistent organic pollutants like dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, or DDT, and heavy metals like mercury.

Loss of Diversity

When pollution is lethal or toxic to animals, the deaths of those animals impact the diversity of an ecosystem. The death of even the smallest organisms in an environment can make a big impact. For example, if pollution kills natural forest decomposers like bacteria and fungus the ecosystem may lack the means to break down organic materials on the forest floor. If the organic material doesn’t decompose, the soil may not receive the nutrients it needs to encourage the growth of plants on which herbivores and omnivores depend. Even the loss of an insect can disrupt an entire food web. In the 2010 article "High Levels of Miticides and Agrochemicals in North American Apiaries: Implications for Honey Bee Health," found on the PLOS ONE website, researchers reported that pesticides had a role in the deaths of over 30 percent of the honeybees in the United States between 2006 and 2009. Without honeybees, lack of pollination services would decrease the amount of fruits, vegetables and berries available for humans and animals to eat.

Scarce Food Sources and Competition
When an animal species dies because of exposure to a pollutant, food may become scarce to another species. For instance, if water pollution causes the death of fish in a lake, the bears in the area would need to seek other sources of food. Consequently, competition for this favored food could cause the bears in an area to attack each other or humans as they protect a food source, or to over-hunt a different species. Alternatively, the bears may migrate elsewhere in search of an environment that better meets their dietary needs.

Soil/land Pollution

Soil/land Pollution:

With the rise of concrete buildings and roads, one part of the Earth that we rarely see is the soil. It has many different names, such as dirt, mud and ground. However, it is definitely very important to us. The plants that feed us grow in soil and keeping it healthy is essential to maintaining a beautiful planet. However, like all other forms of nature, soil also suffers from pollution. The pollution of soil is a common thing these days, and it happens due to the presence of man made elements.

The main reason why the soil becomes contaminated is due to the presence of man made waste. The waste produced from nature itself such as dead plants, carcasses of animals and rotten fruits and vegetables only adds to the fertility of the soil. However, our waste products are full of chemicals that are not originally found in nature and lead to soil pollution.

Credits: http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-and-effects-of-soil-pollution.php

Air pollution

Air pollution means the presence of pollutants in the atmosphere is such concentration that causes injury to human being and plants.

Air pollution is the name for anything that makes the air dirty. Thus, air pollution is anything that contaminates the air and makes it harmful to breath for humans, animals and birds.

Of course, air pollution will depend on the context: some things may be counted as air pollution in some contexts, but not in others. But, in sum, air pollution can be defined as:

Anything that contaminates the air.
Something that makes the air dangerous to breathe.
Potentially dependent on the context.
Air pollution can be both indoor and outdoor as follows:

Air pollution means the presence of pollutants in the atmosphere is such concentration that causes injury to human being and plants.

Air pollution is the name for anything that makes the air dirty. Thus, air pollution is anything that contaminates the air and makes it harmful to breathe for humans, animals and birds.

Of course, air pollution will depend on the context: some things may be counted as air pollution in some contexts, but not in others. But, in sum, air pollution can be defined as:

Anything that contaminates the air.
Something that makes the air dangerous to breathe.
Potentially dependent on the context.
Air pollution can be both indoor and outdoor as follows:

Indoor air pollution: Indoor air pollution is the pollution of the air in enclosed spaces such as our homes, shops, schools and other businesses. It can be caused by numerous things, like smoke from a domestic fireplace or the emission of gases inside a factory. It can be controlled by using detectors to detect pollution within the home or business and then controlling emissions. Chimneys may be used but these can simply cause outdoor air pollution instead.

Outdoor air pollution: Outdoor air pollution is the pollution of the air outdoors. It is usually caused by the emission of polluting gases from the burning of fossil fuels in industry, car exhausts and air travel. It can be limited by reducing the emissions that we create in both homes and businesses, by reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and by traveling less by car and by plane.
Causes: Air mainly polluted by Carbon dioxide, Nitrogen oxide, Sulphur dioxide, etc. Example of air pollutants.

Smoke: this can fill the air with particles of soot that make it physically dirty.
Gases: poisonous gases are particularly dangerous.

Effects: The problems of air pollution.

Damaging to respiratory health.
Makes buildings grimy.
Aggravates allergies.
Causes diseases.
Reduces biodiversity.

Solution: Air pollution can be checked by increasing forest and protecting forests. Industry should be placed long distance from residential areas.

We should be careful and alert that our surrounding on our houses, streets, drains are cleaned. Smoke free furnaces should be used. Electric engines should be used more and not steam or diesel engines. Lastly air pollution can be better controlled by way of combined effort of Government and by private efforts.

Ref: http://www.importantindia.com/21326/types-of-pollution

Facts of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

The campaign is the first big-buck cleanliness programme that involves a cost of an astounding Rs. 62,000 crore. It is expected to cover more than 4,000 towns over a span of 5 years. The objective to have a clean nation by 2019, coincides with the year our country will celebrate 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Under ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’, the government has proposed to construct over 11 crore latrines in 5 years to put an end to the unsanitary defecation practices in the country. That means one new toilet is being constructed every second!

The ‘Swachhta Pledge,’ urges people to devote a minimum of 100 hours annually towards voluntary effort for the cause. That’s not all, it also asks the committed ones to spread awareness and encourage 100 other individuals to take the pledge.

A UN report states that India looses a whopping $54 billion annually due to the shortage of toilet facilities in the country. As of 2013, our nation also faces highest rate of stunted growth and development among children as a result of exorbitantly high population density, open defecation, and absence of appropriate sanitation methods. This also hastens the spread of faecal-oral transmitted infections and diseases. This is one of the major reasons behind the depletion of vital nutrients among growing children. Swachh Bharat aims to address open defaecation on a war footing.

According to a research conducted by WaterAid, around 16 million people get an access to toilet each year. This will number needs to surge and go over 100 million if the entire population is to have an access to a basic toilet by the year 2019.

Modelled on the lines of similar schemes like the ‘Nirmal Bharat Yojana’ that was brought out under the rule of UPA government, Swachh Bharat campaign is also demand-driven. Supposedly, the people demand laterines from the village head, who sends the request to a Sanitation Committee on the district-level, who then passes it forward to the Centre. This is followed by disbursement of funds to the Gram Sabha, which are used for the construction of toilets.

Ref: https://www.savethechildren.in/resource-centre/articles/swachh-bharat-abhiyan-facts-and-figures?gclid=CIHZwZrl4dMCFUiBfgodlqcEXw

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

Swachh Bharat Mission is a nation-wide cleanliness campaign that has been introduced by the Indian Government as a massive movement which aims to initiate the idea of a nation where cleanliness is maintained at all times. When launched on October 2nd 2015, this campaign created ripples across the country and charged up each Indian to make efforts towards a ‘Clean India’ by 2019.

It was launched on the 145th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and the government has been making hard efforts to attain ‘swachhta’ (that is cleanliness) in India ever since.

The 62,000 crore ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ is a one-of-a-kind campaign that has seen an enormous surge in popularity with several well-known campaigners like Priyanka Chopra, Aamir Khan, Sachin Tendulkar and Shashi Tharoor accepting and supporting the idea.

Ref: https://www.savethechildren.in/resource-centre/articles/swachh-bharat-abhiyan-facts-and-figures?gclid=CKOoh9nj4dMCFcKOfgodAZYCQw